A comparative study of parental stress among mothers and fathers of deaf school-age children

This study examined parental stress among mothers and fathers of deaf school-age children (n = 42). Maternal and paternal stress did not significantly differ as measured by the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress-Short Form's (QRS-SF, Friedrich, Greenberg, & Crnic, 1982, 1983) four scales and total score. Correlational findings showed that paternal stress increased as family occupational status and father's educational attainment increased, whereas maternal stress was not significantly related to these variables. Limited correlational findings suggested a relationship between earlier parental use of sign language and present levels of parental stress. Also, maternal stress increases were associated with older aged children. For both mothers and fathers, increased stress was associated with teacher-reported immaturity. Unlike maternal stress, increased paternal stress was correlated with teacher-reported withdrawn behavior, less developed lipreading skills, and lower peer ratings of social acceptance. The study's findings are discussed in the frameworks of differing parental roles, parent and child communication, and the association of a child's socioemotional school behavior and parental stress.